Smith B R
Immunol Commun. 1976;5(5):345-60. doi: 10.3109/08820137609033853.
Antibodies to the thyrotropin receptor appear to be responsible for hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease. The antibodies, described as thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb) mimic the effects of thyrotropin (TSH) by binding to the TSH receptor and activating adenylate cyclase. TSAb consist of an electrophoretically heterogeneous population of IgG and the thyroid-stimulating site is formed by combination of heavy and light chains in the Fab part of the molecule. Binding studies indicate that the TSAb molecule interacts monovalently with membrane bound TSH receptors and that TSAb consists of an antibody population which shows a restricted heterogeneity with regard to TSH receptor affinity. Studies in patients with Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism indicate that the levels of TSAb correlate well with thyroidal iodine uptake and the absence of pituitary control of thyroid function. However in some patients with ophthalmic Graves' disease or autoimmune thyroiditis there is evidence of serum antibodies which interact with the TSH receptor but are unable to stimulate thyroid function.
促甲状腺素受体抗体似乎是格雷夫斯病（Graves' disease）中甲状腺功能亢进的病因。这些抗体被称为甲状腺刺激抗体（TSAb），它们通过与促甲状腺素（TSH）受体结合并激活腺苷酸环化酶来模拟促甲状腺素的作用。TSAb由电泳性质各异的IgG群体组成，甲状腺刺激位点由分子Fab部分的重链和轻链结合形成。结合研究表明，TSAb分子与膜结合的TSH受体单价相互作用，并且TSAb由一群抗体组成，这群抗体在TSH受体亲和力方面表现出有限的异质性。对格雷夫斯病和甲状腺功能亢进患者的研究表明，TSAb水平与甲状腺碘摄取以及甲状腺功能缺乏垂体控制密切相关。然而，在一些患有眼部格雷夫斯病或自身免疫性甲状腺炎的患者中，有证据表明血清抗体与TSH受体相互作用，但无法刺激甲状腺功能。
